WREXHAM crashed out of the FA Trophy after losing 4-0 against Halifax Town in their first round tie at The Shay.

The Reds, who are left to concentrate on the league after exiting a third cup competition of the season, also finished the game with 10-men as Leighton McIntosh was given his marching orders.

Manager Dean Keates said he was going to make changes for the FA Trophy and he was true to his word as the Reds boss selected a totally different team to the one that started the league win over Solihull Moors the previous weekend.

Fringe players and two scholars - centre-backs Max Cleworth and Bobby Beaumont - were named in the side and there was also a place for striker JJ Hooper who returned from a lengthy ankle injury.

Halifax were quick out of the blocks and had the first sight of goal inside the opening 30 seconds as Jamie Allen fired wide.

Left-back Jerome Binnom-Williams also progressed into area and saw a shot deflect off Cleworth for a corner as the Shaymen continued their lively start.

And Halifax went on to take a 10th minute lead after Cleworth conceded a foul just outside the area.

Niall Maher took the free-kick which deflected off wall and beat captain-for-the-day Christian Dibble.

It should have been 2-0 almost immediately but Maher somehow sliced his effort wide with the goal at his mercy after meeting Allen's cut-back.

There was some respite for Wrexham as Ben Tollitt won the ball back and found Hooper whose low drive deflected wide for a corner.

Devonte Redmond went even closer to an equaliser as his shot was palmed out by keeper Sam Johnson but Mark Harris was unable to put the loose ball away.

Wrexham were enjoying their best spell and Hooper's header from Redmond's corner was saved by Johnson.

Halifax centre-back Matty Brown's header only just cleared his own goal following Harris' cross with Johnson off his line, and Hooper's effort from Redmond's corner was deflected wide with the Reds' final chance of the first half.

But just three minutes of the second period had gone when Halifax made it 2-0.

Jack Redshaw was given too much space following a throw-in and he played a one-two before slotting home.

Wrexham were immediately given a chance to reduce the deficit after Hooper was tripped in the area.

However, Hooper lacked conviction with his penalty which was comfortably saved by Johnson.

Halifax almost extended their lead but Josh Staunton's shot was brilliantly tipped over by Dibble.

The Reds goalkeeper also did well to deny Nathan Clarke who got on the end of Redshaw's ball into the box, but Halifax scored a third goal in the 56th minute.

Redshaw was put through on goal and he dinked the ball over Dibble to register his second goal of the afternoon.

It got worse for Wrexham on 66 minutes when McIntosh was shown a straight red card following a late challenge on Maher.

Dibble, who had already made a couple of saves since the third goal, was again called into action to keep out Staunton's defected shot.

Wrexham had an opportunity to reduce the deficit but Tollitt was thwarted by Johnson who pulled off a smart save, but Halifax took a 4-0 lead two minutes from time as Danny Williams converted a cross from the right to complete a miserable afternoon for the Reds.

Halifax (4-4-1-1): Johnson; Duckworth, Clarke, Brown, Binnom-Williams; Allen (MacDonald 75), Staunton, Maher, Williams; Redshaw (King 69); Sho-Silva (McCoulsky 61). Subs: Nolan, Appleyard, McAlinden, Cooper.

Wrexham (4-4-2): Dibble; Reid (Williams 70), Beaumont, Cleworth, Barnum-Bobb; Harris, Redmond, Barton (Jones 58), Tollitt; Hooper (Oswell 58), McIntosh. Subs: Szczepaniak, Huxley, Robinson-Murray, Bickerstaff.

Attendance: 752 (111 from Wrexham).